Multi-functional side rear view mirror for a vehicle

• US RE41,243 E1
• Filed: 07/15/2002
• Issued: 04/20/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Thomas A O'Rourke
• Original Assignee: Thomas A O'Rourke
• Inventors: Kurth, John F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Husar; Stephen F
• Application Number:
  US10/198,663
• Time in Patent Office: 2,836 Days
• Field of Search: 362/494, 362/540, 362/541, 340/468, 340/475, 340/478, 340/479, 359/850, 359/855, 359/864
• US Class Current: 362/494
• CPC Class Codes: B60Q 1/2665 on rear-view mirrors lighting devices for vehicle interior on or for rear-view mirrors B60Q3/258
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/082 using a single wide field mirror or an association of rigidly connected mirrors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 1/1207 with lamps; with turn indicators

Abstract

A multi-functional side rear view mirror for a vehicle for preventing blind spots for viewers. The multi-functional side rear view mirror includes a housing for mounting to the vehicle, a pair of mirrors disposed in the housing for viewing behind the vehicle, a pair of side marker lights disposed on the housing for continuously illuminating while the external light system of the vehicle is activated for preventing blind spots for the viewers, a turn signal light disposed on the housing for flashing while the turn signal system of the vehicle is activated for preventing blind spots for the viewers, and a brake light disposed on the housing for continuously illuminating while the brake light system of the vehicle is activated for preventing blind spots for the viewers.

Claims

1. A multi-functional side rear view mirror for a vehicle for preventing blind spots for viewers, wherein the vehicle has an external lighting system, a turn signal system and a brake light system, said mirror comprising

a) a housing for mounting to the vehicle;

b) a pair of mirrors disposed in said housing for viewing behind the vehicle;

c) a pair of side marker lights disposed on said housing for continuously illuminating while the external light system of the vehicle is activated for preventing blind spots for the viewers;

d) a turn signal light disposed on said housing for flashing while the turn signal system of the vehicle is activated for preventing blind spots for the viewers; and

e) a brake light disposed on said housing for continuously illuminating while the brake light system of the vehicle is activated for preventing blind spots for the viewers.

2. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing is aerodynamically shaped for reducing wind resistance.

3. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said housing has

a) a front face for facing forwardly;

b) a rear face that is substantially opened for facing rearwardly;

c) an inner side face for facing the vehicle; and

d) an outer side face that faces outwardly of said inner side face of said housing.

4. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 3, wherein said pair of mirrors are disposed in said rear face of said housing.

5. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 3, wherein said pair of mirrors comprises:

a) a flat mirror; and

b) a convex mirror.

6. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 5, wherein said flat mirror extends in said rear face of said housing.

7. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 5, wherein said flat mirror extends in said rear face of said housing and occupies an upper approximate 65% thereof.

8. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 5, wherein said convex mirror extends in said rear face of said housing.

9. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 5, wherein said convex mirror extends in said rear face of said housing and occupies a lower approximate 35% thereof.

10. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 3, wherein a first side marker light is disposed on said front face of said housing and a second side marker light extends longitudinally along said outer side face of said housing.

11. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 10, wherein said first side marker light is amber and said second side marker light is red.

12. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 5, wherein said turn signal light extends laterally across said rear face of said housing, between said flat mirror and said convex mirror.

13. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said turn signal light comprises two filament bulbs, with one filament of each bulb for flashing while the turn signal system of the vehicle is activated.

14. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 1, wherein said turn signal light is arrow-shaped and flashes successively outwardly while the turn signal system of the vehicle is activated.

15. The multi-functional side rear view mirror as defined in claim 13, wherein said brake light is another filament of each bulb of said turn signal light for continuously illuminating while the brake light system of the vehicle is activated.

16. A multi-functional side rear view mirror for a vehicle for preventing blind spots for viewers, wherein the vehicle has an external lighting system, a turn signal system, and a brake light system, said mirror comprising:

a) a housing for mounting to the vehicle;

b) at least one side marker light disposed on said housing, said housing further comprising a turn signal light disposed on a rear face of said housing for flashing while the turn signal system of the vehicle is activated for preventing blind spots for the viewers and a brake light disposed on said housing for continuously illuminating while the brake light system of the vehicle is activated.

17. The rear view mirror according to claim 16 wherein the illuminated portion of the rear face is generally in the shape of an arrow.

18. The rear view mirror according to claim 16 wherein said side marker light is continuously illuminated when the external light system of the vehicle is activated.

19. The rear view mirror according to claim 18 wherein at least one of said side marker lights is red.

20. The rear view mirror according to claim 18 wherein at least one of said side marker lights is amber.

21. The rear view mirror according to claim 18 wherein at least one of said side marker lights extends onto the front face of said housing.

22. The rear view mirror according to claim 21 wherein at least one of said side marker lights extending onto the front face of the housing is red.

23. The rear view mirror according to claim 21 wherein a least one of said side marker lights extending onto the front face of the housing is amber.

24. The rear view mirror according to claim 16 further comprising at least one mirror disposed in said housing for viewing behind the vehicle.

25. The rear view mirror according to claim 16 further comprising a turn signal light disposed on said housing for flashing while the turn signal system of the vehicle is activated.

26. The rear view mirror according to claim 16 further comprising a brake light disposed on said housing for continuously illuminating while the brake light system of the vehicle is activated.

27. The rear view mirror according to claim 24 further comprising a turn signal light disposed on said housing for flashing while the turn signal system of the vehicle is activated for preventing blind spots for the viewers.

28. The rear view mirror according to claim 24 further comprising a brake light disposed on said housing for continuously illuminating while the brake light system of the vehicle is activated for preventing blind spots for the viewers.

29. A multi-functional side rear view mirror for a vehicle for preventing blind spots for viewers, wherein the vehicle has an external lighting system, a turn signal system, and a brake light system, said mirror comprising:

a) a housing for mounting to the vehicle, said housing having at least a front face and a rear face;

b) a first and second mirrors disposed on said rear face in said housing for viewing behind the vehicle;

said first mirror being separated from said second mirror by a portion of the rear face of said housing, wherein a portion of the rear face between the first and second mirrors is illuminated when said turn signal light is activated, said rear face of said housing having a portion thereof which is illuminated such that the turn signal light flashes successively outwardly when a turn signal light is activated, said illuminated portion of said rear face being in an area of said rear face where there is no mirror.

30. The rear view mirror according to claim 29 wherein said mirrors are in generally the same plane of the rear face of the housing.

31. The rear view mirror according to claim 29 wherein a portion of rear face is illuminated when a brake light on a vehicle is activated.

32. The rear view mirror according to claim 29 wherein a portion of the rear face is illuminated such that said illuminated portion of said turn signal light is in the shape of an arrow and flashes successively outwardly when said turn signal light is activated.

33. The rear view mirror according to claim 29 wherein the illuminated portion of the rear face is generally in the shape of an arrow.

34. The rear view mirror according to claim 29 wherein said first mirror is a flat mirror and said second mirror is convex.

35. The rear view mirror according to claim 34 wherein the second mirror comprises a lower approximately 35% of the rear face of the housing.

36. The rear view mirror according to claim 29 wherein the first mirror comprises an upper approximately 65% of the rear face of the housing.

37. The rear view mirror according to claim 29 wherein the second mirror comprises a lower approximately 35% of the rear face of the housing.

38. The rear view mirror according to claim 29 wherein said housing further comprises an outer side face having at least one illuminated portion.

39. A multi-functional side rear view mirror for a vehicle for preventing blind spots for viewers, wherein the vehicle has an external lighting system, a turn signal system, and a brake light system, said mirror comprising:

a) a housing for mounting to the vehicle said housing having a front face and a rear face, wherein at least one side marker light is disposed on said housing for continuously illuminating while the external light system of the vehicle is activated;

b) a brake light disposed on said housing for continuously illuminating when the brake light system of the vehicle is activated;

c) at least one mirror disposed in said housing for viewing behind the vehicle; and

d) wherein said housing further comprises a turn signal light disposed on a rear face of said housing for flashing while the turn signal system of the vehicle is activated for preventing blind spots for the viewers said turn signal light being adapted to flash successively outwardly when the turn signal is activated.